Concern Over New Business Hours

by Ben Ng
Borneo Bulletin Weekend
Saturday, 26 January, 2008

A proposed move by the relevant authorities to redefine the operating hours of businesses has generated concern among the business community and members of the general public.

Some entrepreneurs are however hopeful that the authorities will reconsider the move, especially in helping the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

In an official directive made public to business operators this week, restaurants, cafes, convenience stores, salons, supermarkets and gymnasiums have had their operating hours cut short.

The Bulletin learns that at a meeting held in November last year it has decided that all supermarkets will have to be closed by 11pm, restaurants/cafes/eateries by 12 midnight, convenience stores by 11pm, barber shops and salons closed by 8pm, and gyms closed by 9pm respectively. The details of this decision were circulated to business premises early this week.

The move puzzled many, as the "cafe culture" as elsewhere in the region has become one of Brunei's popular pastimes.

"It's certainly a step backwards," said the owner of Brunei's late night cafe.

He also spoke of the Kiulap commercial area, and took it as an example of how the new ruling would affect both business and tourism.

"(Kiulap) is an up-and-coming area. There are two hotels where tourists and business travellers are accommodated. And now, 24-hour cafes or cafes which open beyong midnight can no longer facilitate their needs," he said. So is the case in Bandar and Gadong, he added.

He feels the chances of hotels opening up in-house 24-hour cafes to compensate, is unlikely. "No hotel is going to open up a 24-hour in-house cafe, because of the cost and the uncertainty of the patronage."

Restaurants are allowed in all hotels to operate 24 hours a day, but they will only be allowed to serve hotel guests, and not walk-in diners.

"Certainly, it will affect Brunei's goal of promoting its SME's and foreign investments... because cafe owners tend to be on the whole, very young people who do it not only for the money, but it fits the lifestyle of Brunei," a regular patron at a cafe said.

"So, their enthusiasm and entrepreneurship is dimmed by these kind of restrictions, especially now that everywhere in the world, even Australia - which was restricted before - is making efforts to open up till the early hours of the morning."

Another young customer who was surfing the net on his laptop said cafes and coffee shops serve a purpose for the young people who gather there to exchange intellectual ideas.

"I think it will do tremendous harm, first of all, to the economy of the country, secondly to the image of the country. Business investment will suffer and businessmen will be left wondering why they suddenly slapped on this rule," he added.

The proposed move will definitely affect business, said the Operational Director of a popular cafe in the Gadong commercial area, especially on weekends.

"I think this will definitely affect the local SME's," he said, "especially people who have gerai's and sell food late at night."

"We don't know the reason for why they're doing this. I just don't understand," he said.

If the demand is there, it would be logical to open till late, he said. "This is business."

"But 12 midnight? We feel it's a bit too early, especially for cafes. There is a demand. People want to stay out late on the weekends, to watch football or just unwind. So we don't understand why they are enforcing these rules," he continued.

"I don't know what benefit it will bring either. It will probably force cafes to operate illegally at late hours of he night." The only entertainment that is currently available in Brunei he said, were "basically cafes and restaurants. Where else can you gather? For a place that has limited entertainment, the cafe scene is very important."

He feels the move will "definitely bring a negative impact". "It's not a progressive move if we want to be on par with the rest of the world. We're definitely going backwards, not forwards," he said.